Schumer wants to child-proof e-cigarette liquid

ALBANY >> Citing a rising number of calls to poison control centers relating to liquid nicotine, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer on Sunday called on the federal government to require child-proof caps on containers used to refill e-cigarettes.

Poison control centers in New York have received nearly 70 calls so far this year regarding accidental poisonings from the liquid. That’s compared to 46 calls in all of 2013, Schumer said.

Nationally, calls to poison control centers about liquid nicotine have gone from one per month in 2010 to 200 per month in 2014, a reflection of the electronic device’s growing popularity.

E-cigarettes contain liquid nicotine. Some of the devices are refillable, and liquid is sold in separate containers. The New York Democrat said he is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require e-cigarette makers to place child-proof caps and warning labels on the containers.

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More than half of the poison control center calls were about a child five years old or younger.

“With flavors like bubble gum and chocolate, it’s no wonder children are attracted to e-liquid in the hopes that it’s candy,” Schumer.

He said ingesting the chemical can cause nausea, heart problems, vomiting, seizures and potentially death.